60 Young Changemakers Champion Mangrove Communication on International Day of Forests
- Mangrove Matters PH
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written by Matthew Vincent Tabilog, Founder
Metro Manila (March 21, 2026) – In celebration of the International Day of Forests, Mangrove Matters PH (MMPH), a youth-led organization committed to the conservation and protection of mangrove forests in the Philippines, along with 60 youth members across Luzon gathered at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) for the Workshop for Young Mangrove Science Communicators, supported by the Small Grants Programme of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
The workshop aimed to deepen mangrove awareness among the youth by equipping the participants with the tools and resources needed to amplify science communication within their communities and schools. This workshop is among the components of the organization’s project, Mangroves for the YOUth, by the Youth, and other initiatives include the publication of a mangrove workbook for elementary students authored and illustrated by Genea Nichole Cortez and the development of an interactive webpage utilizing the workbook by Parker Shane Manalaysay to ensure accessibility and digital reach.
Youth engagement is an important aspect to advance the conservation of mangrove forests in the Philippines. Leo Anthony Castro, Executive of Mangrove Matters PH, underscored that the workshop will not only prepare the participants to apply their knowledge in their communities and schools, but will also inspire lasting behavioural change.
“For sure the participants will get the chance to network with their co-participants to promote potential collaborations and partnerships for youth engagement for the conservation of mangroves,” Castro added.
Among the speakers, Mikael Francisco of FlipScience, pointed out the importance of science communication in the digital age.
“It is important to remember three things in science communication. First, when communicated ineffectively, good science can easily become bad science even without malicious intent. Second, Lies spread faster and much easier than the truth and when enough people believe them, they become much harder to correct. And lastly, aim to make your audience smarter, not to make yourself look smarter”, Francisco said.
Beyond the discussions, the participants also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the biodiversity of the wetland park which hosts diverse species of mangroves and shorebirds, many of which are migratory. The wetland park is also a Ramsar Site, Wetlands of International Importance, and a protected area managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. A wetlands museum is also featured in the park where the participants got the chance to learn more about the significance and important roles of wetlands in the Philippines.
“Here at LPPWP, we continue to engage with the youth because we believe that this sector is important to advance sustainability and intergenerational equity for the protection of our precious ecosystems. Appreciation should start at a young age and a workshop like this is an important avenue to cultivate the sense of stewardship,” Jun Rey Tabarno of LPPWP highlighted.
The session concluded with a workshop output where participants integrated their learnings through the creation of publicity materials and social media reels. These outputs will be featured in social media platforms of MMPH.
The organization continues to champion youth-led ini
tiatives on mangrove conservation and protection through science communication, youth and community engagement, policy development, and application of nature-based solutions. MMPH is beyond grateful for the financial support from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park for being a proactive partner in securing the venue and logistics, One Pawikan I
nitiative, Wetlands International Philippines, and the Global Mangrove Alliance Philippines for their assistance, and to the participants for taking the challenge in promoting mangrove communication for awareness-raising.
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